Charlotte blinked in shock.
Issac trying to sabotage her job was predictable, but Olivia swooping in to steal her position? Right after Charlotte had graciously handed her a face–saving exit from the whole awkward station?
Talk about gratitude.
Zarek’s expression remained neutral, though his previously warm gaze had cooled significantly. Ignoring everyone else, he looked directly at Charlotte. “Do you want to quit?”
“Absolutely no.” Charlotte reped without missing a beat
Even if she weren’t about to divorce Issac, he bad cero right to make career decisions for her
Issac’s face darkened to a dangerous shade.
Olivia shot Charlotte a look that could freeze lava
Zarek, meanwhile, looked faintly amused, the corners of his eyes crinkling slightly. “Good to hear.”
He checked his watch, then looked up again. “The doctor says your leg needs at least a week to heal properly. You could head back to New York to recover | can arrange for the jet to take you back today?”
“That’s not necessary, Charlotte quickly replied. “I came with the team, I’ll leave with the beam.”
Having his private jet make a special trip just for her felt excessive.
“Fair enough, we return together.
The hint of a sme in Zarek’s eyes deepened
After telling her to rest well, he left with Rex in tow
Olivia clearly had more to say to Charlotte, but seeing Zarok disappear through the doorway, she hesitated briefly before hurrying after hin
venomous glare.
Before leaving, she shot Charlette one last ve
It was becoming clear that any wo
woman within Zarek’s orbit automatically registered as competition in Olivia’s world.
“Are you seriously flirting
ting with him right in front of me? Do you think I’m invisible?
Isaac’s furious voice erupted beside her.
Charlotte startled slightly.
She turned to face Issar’s thunderous expression right, she’d forgotten that human landmine was still in the room.
“Mr. Wood, could you keep it down? We’re in a hospital”
“Don’t call me Mr. WoodTM
“Fine, CEO Wood Please get the hell out of my room. Charlotte flashed him a sugar–coated smile before lying down and yanking the covers over her
bead
I was so infuriated she could practically hear his blood pressure rising.
Yet he had no leverage to break through her defenses. He sat silently at the edge of the bed, watching his wife pretend he didn’t est, his expression like he’d swallowed something bitter.
Charlotte stayed in the hospital for three days.
– Tachidden Past
Esac remained by her side the entire time, refusing to leme regardless of how she ignored him or treated him like he was invisible. His stubbornnen was almend injurvive.
Throughout this period. This phone rang constantly. He answered some calls but rejected most without a word.
His irritation was becoming increasingly obvious
Charlotte wondered: Had the Granthams managed to had Evelyn out?
It wasn’t far fetched. Ioar himself had been released quickly–the Wood family lawyers weren’t playing checkers, and neither were the Granthams‘,
That afternoon.
Using a bathroom liteak as cover, the locked the door and called Summer.
“Summer, where are you? Has Issac been hounding you?!
I’m in Lisbon, Portugal. He tracked me down.”
“Portugal? I thought you were in Iceland?
Long story,”
Charlotte didn’t mention her new position as Zarek’s secretary or her injury. “By the way, what’s happening with Evelyn
Ar this, Summer’s voice hardened with frustration. “The Granthams submitted documentation claiming she has some convenient psychological condition. She was released on bail yesterday afternoon. Today their lawyers approached me about a settlement, but I shut that down immediately. Told them we don’t want their blood money–we’re not settling-
I take the settlement”
“What?” Summer clearly thought she’d misheard. “Come again? Settle?”
Issar’s putting on this whole changed man who can’t live without me performance. I can’t shake him. Even with all our evidence, he might not back down, and I’m not confident we’d win in court. 5o… I need in switch tactics.”
Summer suddenly understood Charlotte’s thinking and was floored.
She wanted te
to use Evelyn against Issa?
That was next level chess.
“Are you absolutely sure about this?”
Charlotte sighed. “Summer, with the Granthams resources, getting Evelyn completely off the hook is just a matter of time. If they’re offering a settlement now, we should leverate that.”
“Also, do me a favor–leak some information to Evelyn. Tell her Issac wants to reconcile with me and refuses to divorce. Given her obsession with him, that news will make her lose her mind. The Granthams spall Evelyn boyand reason so when she throws a tantrum, they’ll pressure Issac to marry her At that point, he’ll have to agree to the divorce whether he likes it or not.”
Sunumer was momentarily speechless.
Honestly everyone in this situation is completely imane.
Before hanging up, she couldn’t help asking. “What if Issac genuinely regrets everything? What if he truly loves you? is there reallyait of you that’s wavering even a little
Charlotte laughed softly. “If he genuinely regrets it, then this outcome is still a fitting punishment for his betrayal. Whether he suffers or regrets–it’s exactly what he deserves.”
7:00 PM
Zarek and Re
Rex arrived.
Issac wasn’t around. He’d received a troubling phone call and had rushed out, his face clouded with worry,
It seemed Summer’s message had been delivered effectively.
SLIN
Chapter 62
Charlotte was feeling a petty satisfaction as the related, wondering if the factory situation had been fully resolved–when Zarek and Regated in
Zarek looked somewhat worn out
No surprise there. With the original schedule unchanged plus the added factory crisis, he’d been pulled in multiple directam. Anyone would be
exhausted
“Miss Whitmore, we’re heading back to New York tomorrow,” Rex informed her.
Seeing Rex’s releved expression, Charlotte figured the factory situation must have been wrapped up successfully
She’d wanted to ask about it when they visited two days ago, but Zarek had seemed so serious that she’d held back. Today, she finally felt comfortable asking, “Did Mateus finally confess everything?
Rex’s eyes lit up with surprise and amusement, “Wow, how did you know?
Zarek so leaned forward with interest, waiting for her explanation
Charlotte smiled modestly. “Just connecting the dots.”
They interrogated Mateus that night and found out where I was being held I gave you my recorded conversations from the factory identifying the ghost employees. Victor admitted to being at that house. Logically, with such solid evidence, the case should have been wrapped up within hours.”
“But I knew it wouldn’t be that simple because Victor’s behavior was suspicious.”
“If they were just regular accomplices, one wouldn’t protect the other once caught. When Victor learned Mateus had confessed, he should have panicked, feeling the walls closing in. But he wasn’t afraid at all.”
“Why was he so confident Mateus wouldn’t throw him under the bus? Unless they had a prior arrangement where one would take the fall to protect the other.”
“More likely, they planned everything before I even visited the factory. If I disappeared and you came looking, Mateus would willingly be the scapegoat while Victor, the true mastermind, would escape suspicion. The CEO naturally wouldn’t have the bandwith to obsess over this indefinitely.”
When she finished, Zarek had listened attentively throughout, hut at her last statement, his brow furrowed. “Miss Whitmore, don’t underestimate your importance. If you had disappeared, I would have torn that place apart until I found answers.
Charlotte froze, caught completely off guard by his response.
Chapter 63
Charlotte from
